Musicians to Visit Schools to Share Love of the Alphorn Sponsored by Carmel Christkindlmarkt

Date: 11/12/19

Submitted by : Carmel Christkindlmarkt  

What:    Since 2017 the Carmel Christkindlmarkt has had the pleasure of welcoming the   Midwest Alphorn Retreat players to their winter market in Carmel, IN.

This year the Alphorn players will not only be visiting the market but are also being sponsored by the market to visit local schools. While at the schools they will share the history, culture and most of all the lovely tones of the Alphorn instrument with the students. The students will even have the opportunity to play an Alphorn themselves!

The Carmel Christkindlmarkt is a 501C3 not for profit with one goal of conducting educational and cultural activities in Germanic culture through musical performances and cultural presentations. On November 14th the

Alphorn players will visit Carmel High School to present to the German classes. On November 15th they will be performing at Lawrence North High school and then in the afternoon at the Center for Inquiry School 2 for their Kindergarten-5th grade students. Media is welcome to come and join in on the fun.

History: History of the Alphorn Archaeological records of the Alphorn in Switzerland date back nearly 2,000 years. Early instruments in the mountainous regions of the Alps were used for signaling and to announce daily activities.

Since ancient times the Alphorn has sounded as a part of the daily activities of the shepherds and cowherds of these mountain people. Such melodies became ritual signals for “all is well in the valley”, and were passed down through countless generations, from shepherd father to shepherd son. The instrument has a four-octave range.

Since the Alphorn has no keys, valves, or slides, the player can only produce pitches in the horn’s overtone series. Due to its conical bore, increasing in size from the mouthpiece to the end of the bell, the Alphorn produces a mellow and reverberant sound that can carry for miles.

Don’t miss the 2019 Carmel Christkindlmarkt

November 16 – December 24

Market hours: Wednesdays & Thursdays 4-9 p.m. / Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays Noon-9 p.m. Address: 10 Center Green , Carmel, IN 46032

Read the story about What is new at Christkindlmarkt in 2019